Display-rack.



Patented luly 2, IQUI.

W. NORTHGRAVES.

DISPLAY RAGK. (Application la Aug. 24, 1800.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model e: l 2.0 lnvenior I l l 4. I l I l l l I l l l I I I I @Miorneys Patented luly 2, l90l.

W. NOBTHGRAVES.

DISPLAY BACK. (Alppnction' med Aug. 24, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

` (No Windel.)-

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM NoItrIIGRAvEs, oF PERTH, CANADA, AssIGNoR OF 'ONE-HALF TO JoIIN s. FEEIIAN, on DEKALB, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-RACK.

SPEGIFICATXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,790, datediluly 2, 1901.

Application tiled lAugust 24, 1900.

To @ZZ whom t may concern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM NORTH- GRAVES, a subject of I-Ier Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Perth, count-y of Lanark, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,'such as 1o will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in display-racks, and one object that I have in View is theprovision ot' a simple structure r 5 which may be adjusted to a variety of positions and secure the most advantageous display of the merchandise that it may be desired to place on the rack.

A further object of the invention is 'to prozo vide an improved display-rack in which either of two rack-sections may be adjusted independently of each other to different positions, as may be desired, and, furthermore, to provide simple and eicient locking devices each especially adapted to one rack-section, and which locking device is operable to firmly hold its respective rack-section in an inclined or vertical position to which said racksection may be adjusted.

3o Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of thesubjoined description, and the noveltyin the combinat'ion of devices and in the construction and arrangement of parts will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings hereto annexed, forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a display-rackconstructed in accordance with my invention and show- 4o ing by full lines' two shelved rack-sections adjusted in the same vertical plane, representing by dotted lines the upper rack-section folded downwardly to a position at one side of the lower rack-section and in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken transversely through the table-stand and showing the parts by full lines in the same position as in Fig. l, the shelves being omit- 5o ted. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View taken in .section when thev latter is inverted.

Serial No. 27,879. (No model.)

the plane of the dotted line 3 3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation of a part of the stand, the adjacent portions of the up'- l per and lower rack-sections, and the locking devices for such rack-sections. Fig. 5 is a 55 detail vertical section through the upper part of the two rack-sections, one of which has been inverted, representing the position of the permanentr table-top and the flush relal tion of the supplemental removable table- 6o top. Fig. 6 is avertical cross-section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional View illustrating one embodiment of means for holding the supplemental top on the upper rack- Fig. 8 is a detail View of a modified form of the racksections, which Inay be inclined forward or backward with respect to the horizon tal plane ot' the stand.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in each fig'- ure of the drawings. w

The leading feature of my-iuvention consists in the combination, with abase or stand, of two shelved rack-sections connected with said base or stand for adjustment thereon independently of each other and independent fastening or locking devices for said'rack-sections. One rack-section, which I will herein- 8o after refer to as the lower rack-section, is connected With the base or stand in such .a way as to be capable of adjustment to inclined and' vertical positions, and the locking device for this raclesection is adapted to hold it in either of the described positions. The

other rack-section, which I will hereinafter refer to as the upper7 rack-section, is capable of adjustment to either of three several positions. First, it may bemoved to a ver- 9o tical position immediately over or in the vertical plane of the lower rack-section; secondly, it may be moved to an inclined position while it is disposed above the lower racksection, and, thirdly, it may be turned down to occupy a position alongside of the lower rack-section and in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith, the last-named position beingindicated bydotted lines in Fig. l.

'lhe base or stand 10 which I employ somerco what resembles a table, and it consists of the foot-pieces 11, the front and back posts 12 13, and the head bars or rails 14. The foot-pieces are united together by a tie-rod 11, and to these foot-pieces are secured in any suitable way the posts 12 13,- which are braced by the cross-rails 12a. The head bars or rails 14 are preferably made of metal, and the upper ends of the corner-posts are secured firmly thereto. These bars or rails are parallel with each lother at the upper part of the stand, and to the inner opposing sides or faces of said rails 14 are firmly secured the metallic brackets 15. The brackets have inwardly-extending.arms 16, provided with the slots 17, and on these arms of the brackets rests the horizontal table 18, the latter being` secured firmly by the bolts or screws 19, which pass through the slots'in the bracket-arms. The'ends of this horizontal table terminate-within the headbars 14 of the stand, so as to leave the narrow spaces 19 between the table and headbars 14,'as shown more clearly by Fig. 3, which spaces 19 accommodate the corner-bars of the rack-sections and certain of the locking devices therefor.

The lower shelved rack-section has the vertical bars 2O 21 arranged in pairs near opposide ends of the stand and at the front and rear portions thereof, each vertical corner-bar being provided atits upper end with an elbow 22, which is pivoted at 23 to the head-rail 14 of the stand 10. the front bars 20 and the rear bars 21 have their elbows pivoted to the head-rails 14 at the proper distances apart, and these front and rear bars are connected by the cross metallic bars 24, two of which are preferably employed for each pair of vertical bars, each cross-bar having its end portions pivoted at 25` to the front and rear Vertical bars 2O and 21, respectively. (See Fig. The crossbars which lie in the same horizontal plane support or carry the shelves 26, the latter spanning the spaces between the cross-bars at opposite ends of the rack and being firmly secured to said cross-bars in any approved way-as, for example, by screws which pass through suitable openings in the bars 24 and are embedded in the shelves.

The lower rack-section is represented by thedrawings as having two shelves; but it is understood that the number of the shelvesv employed may be varied as desired.

The lowerrack-section is pivoted or suspended at its upper portion by elbow-joints on the head-rails 14 of the base, whereby said rack-section may be disposed in the vertical position shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, or said rack-section may have its vertical bars moved to the inclined positions partly represented by Fig. 4. The adjustment of the lower rack-section to the inclined position causes its lower portion to project in front of the stand 10; but as the cross-bars 24 are pivoted to the vertical corner-bars 2O 21 the shelves 26 of the lower rack-section It will be understood that Y 34a, to said bars 32 33.

will remain in the proper horizontal positions for the receptionvof the merchandise displayed.

The locking device which I prefer to employ for the lower rack-section consists of the quadrants v27, disposed at opposite ends of the section and each pivoted at 28 to one of the rear vertical bars 2l. These quadrants may be clamped adjustably to the head-rails 14 of the stand 10 by any suitable means; but in the drawingsl have shown the bolt 29 passing through the slot 30 in each quadrant, said bolt also passing through an aperture in one head-rail 14 and receiving the winged thumb-nut 31 on its exposed protruding end. (See Figs. 1 and 3, inclusive.) The thumbnuts of the bolts may be loosened for the quadrants to change their positions in harmony with the adjustment of the lower racksection; but the nuts may be tightened to clamp such quadrants lirmly against the headrails 14, thus maintaining the lower rack-section rmlyin the position to which it may be adjusted. e

I will-now proceed todescribe the upper rack-section `and the-'means for locking the same in its adjusted positions. This upper section consists of the front and rear vertical bars 32 33, the metallic cross-bars 34, and the shelves 25. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The bars 32 at the front of this upper rack-sectionvare provided at their lower ends with the elbows 38, the latterbeing tted in the spaces 19 between the table 18 and the head-rails 14 of the stand, whereby said front bars 32 may be fitted to said head-bars 14 by the removable bolts 38. The rear vertical bars are bent atwise at two points to form the elbow 39 in the peculiar shape represented more clearly by Figs. -2 and 3 of the drawings, and these elbows 39 of said rear bars are looselymounted on the hinge-rod 37, which passes through said elbows and the two head-rails 14. It will be understood that each rear vertical bar has an elbow v39, formed to bear on the hingerod 37 at two points, thus contributing to the strength of the hinge-joint between the stand and the upper rack-section.

Each cross-bar 34 spans the space between two ofthe vertical bars 32 33, the end portions of said cross-bar 34 being pivoted, as at Each shelf 35 of the upper rack-section is fastened at its ends to two of the bars 34, which lie in the same horizontal plane, whereby the shelf is affixed to bars which are pivoted to vertical bars forming a part of the upper rack-section. The bolts 38, which fasten the elbows 38 at the foot ends of the front bars 32, are removably secured to the head-rails 14; but the elbows 39 of the rear posts are hinged permanently by the rod 37 to said head-bars 14'. As shown by Figs. 2 and 4, the hinge-rod 37 for the upper rack-section is located at a point well to the rear of the pivots 23, that connect the elbows 22 of the rear vertical bars 21 of the lower rack-section to the head-rails 14, and

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in its inverted position lying Well to the rear,

of the lower rack-sectionand in substantially the same horizontal plane therewith.

As the means for locking the upper racksection in its vertical or inclined position, I employ the adjusting and locking bars 40, one being disposed at each side of the displaystand, so as to occupy the space 19 between the table and one head-bar 14. Each bar 40 has an angular arm 41, which is pivoted at 42 to one of the rear bars 33 of the upper racksection. This lockingand adjusting bar may be adjustably clamped by any appropriate means to the head-rail 14, and as one means forthis adjustable clamping of the bar 40 I have shown it provided with a longitudinal slot 43. The bolt 38a is formed with a head 52, and it is also provided. with a smooth sleeve or collar 53, the latter being disposed between the head and the threaded shankof the bolt, as shown more clearly by Figs. 6 and 7. The sleeve or collar 53 of the bolt is adapted to tit in a notch 44a of the head-rail 14 on the stand, and the threaded shank of said bolt passes through an opening in the front elbow 38 of one vertical bar 32 and also through a slot 43 of one adjusting-bar 40, as more clearly shown by Fig. 6. Said shank of the bolt -is screwed in a nut 54, which is flanged at 55 to bear against the bar 40, While the nut itself is received in the slot 43 of said bar, whereby the vnut is held against rotation by its engagement with the bar at the time when the screw is turned in the notch ofthe opening and the parts 38 and 40, thus permitting the head of the bolt and the nut to clamp the bar 40 firmly in position to which it may be adjusted. The details of construction may, however, be varied as desired.

It will be understood that the two bolts 38L may be withdrawn from the notches in the head-rails of the stand, said bolts remaining attached to the elbows 38 and the bars 40. The upper rack-section can be turned upside down tothe inverted position shown by dotted lines in Fig.'1 and partly by full lines in Fig. 5, and during such inversion of the upper rack-section the elbows 39 of the vertical bars 33 turn on the hinge-rod 37, the latter being fastened to the base or stand. In its inverted position the upper rack-section rests upon and is supported by the auxiliary footpieces 46, and to complete the table-top of the improved display-stand an auxiliary topsection 50 (shown by Fig. 5) is arranged in iiush relation with the permanent top-section 18. The footpieces 46 are hinged at 47 to the foot-pieces 11 of the stand, and these hinges 47 are so located that the auxiliary foot-pieces may be folded within the foot-pieces 11, thus disposing the auxiliary footpieces out of 40, vso as to be received in a bearing'l.

sight when the upper rack-section is adjusted to one of its elevated positions.-

The supplemental top-section 50 may be supported by any suitable means over the inverted upper rack-section, and, as shown by Fig. 5, one edge of said supplemental top-section 50 may rest upon the hinge-rod 37,While the outer portion of said top-section may be supported by the screw-head or nut clamping the key-plate secured on the edge of the cover 50 with the thumb-screw nut 38a, one of the latter being shown by Fig. 7 as'passing through an elbow 38a and the slot in the bar Of course any other means may be adopted for removably securing the top-section 50 tothe stand. v The upper rack-section isprovided with the crossed stay-rods`48, Awhich extend fromythe upper corners thereof nearly yto the lower hinge-corners. In like'manner the rear corner-posts 13 of the stud 10 may be braced by similar crossed stay-rods 49, as clearly shown by Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the upper and lower rack members or sections' are independently supported on a single stand which is common to both members, whereby either member may be adj usted to different positions independently of thev the elbows 22 turned to the front vertical bars, which are formed with notches, one of which is indicated at 56, and each elbow 2 2 is pivoted to the rail 14 of the stand 10 at 23. The front elbow 22 of the front bar is connected to the stand by a bolt 57 through a hole in the rail 14, and this bolt passes through a longitudinal slot 6l., which is provided in the adjusting-bar 58, the latter having an angular end 59, to which it is pivoted at 60 to one of t-he front bars 21. Itis evident that the bar 58 may be adjusted on .the bolt 57 by sliding its slotted portion on said bolt, and the bolt may then be tightened to hold the lower rack-section in the adjusted position. It is understood that the pivoted rod is dispensed with in Fig. 8, and the front vertical bars 22 of the upper rack-section have the elbows 39 pivoted at 39:L to the rail 14 of the stand, and these elbows have the extending T-elbow arms 62, each arm adapted to engage with the notch 56 in the front elbow 22 or abut against the back of the bar 2l, and

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to the inclined position shown by full lines in Fig. 8, which shows the extreme incline of both racks, the lower rack-section may be adjusted to several angles by abutting against the bar 21, and the two rack-sections have shoulder-64 of the arm 62, so as to hold said,

rack-section in position. l

The advantage of the elbow and T-elbow joints between the rack-sections and the stand arises from the fact that the joints secure a wide lever-surfacefor clamping the rack-sections, and said elbowjoints, in connection with the adjusting and clamping bars 40, secure a trestle-like support to the upper rack-section, said parts also forming a lengthened or widened surface on the top of the stand when the upper rack-section is inverted for thc reception of the supplemental table-top 50. By separating the rack into upper and lower sections the improved stand possesses many advantageous features, because a variety of changes in the adjustment of the stand is obtained, which changes are well adapted to the needs of the storekeeper in dressing the stand with goods to be displayed. The goods may be placed on the table of the stand or on either of the shelves thereof, and the several adjustments afforded by the sections of the improved rack enable the goods to be displayed to goodadvantage from either side of the stand-that is to say, goods can be shown from the rear of the stand as well as from the front side thereof.

It is evident that the pivotal rod 37 may be omitted from the stand and that a portion of the elbow-hinge may be dispensed with by cutting off that portion of said hinge which bears on therod.

A bracket-bearing to support the elbow bars 33 is pivoted to the rail 14, as shown by Fig. 4c.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the part-s while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be .limited ,to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what etw/s rear of, the lowerV rack-section, and means for supporting said upper rack-section in its adjusted positions, substantially as described.

2. A `display-rack comprising a stand, a lower rack-section supported thereon, an upper rack-section having a pivotal connection at its lower rear corner only to said stand and capable ot'n adjustment topositions either in vertical alinement with said stand, at an angle thereto, or of inversion in rear of said stand, and lookin g means for said upper racksection to sustain it in itsv elevated or inclined positions, substantially as described.

3. A display-rack comprising a stand, a lower rack-section pivoted to said stand, an upper rack-section hinged at its lower rear corner only Ato the stand, and independent locking devices each connected with one rack-section and clamped adjustably to the stand, the locking device for the upper racksection having an element connected to said rack-section at one side of its pivotal attach ment to said stand, whereby said locking device is adapted to sustain the upper rack section in either an elevated position over the lower section, or at an angle thereto and to the stand, substantially as set forth.

4. A display-rack comprising a stand, a lower rack-section having the upright bars and the elbow-jointed connection with said stand and adjustable thereon to vertical or inclined positions, shelves pivoted to the bars of said lower rack-section, `the quadrants pivoted to the lower rack-section, and means for clamping the quadrants to the stand, an upper racl-section having at its rear corner only a hinged connection to the stand and adjustable to vertical, inclined. or inverted positions, and an independent locking device for holding said upper rack section in either of its adjusted positions, substantially as described.

5. A display-.rack comprising a stand, an upper rack-section having the elbow-hinged connection at its rear corner only with said l stand and capable of adjustment to either a vertical, inclined or inverted position, locking-rails connected tothe upper rack section, and clamps for confining the lockingrails to the stand,whereby the rails may be adjusted or removed, substantially as described.

6. A display-.rack comprising a stand, an upper rack-section hinged at its lower rear corner only to said stand and capable of adj ustment to the elevated or inverted positions as described, the vlocking-bars pivoted to said upper rack-section at points adjacent to the hinged connection of the rack to the stand, and means for clamping said bars detachably and individually to the stand, substantially as described.

7. In a display-rack, the combination of a stand provided with the brackets and a tabletop,secured to the brackets, a lower shelved rack-section having pivotal connection with said stand below the table-top, an upper IOS shelved racksection having a permanent hinge connection at its rear corner only with the stand, and independent locking devices each connected to one rack-section and adapted to be clamped to the stand, substantially as described.

8. A displayrack comprising a stand having parallel side bars, a table-top secured permanently to said stand and having its end portions terminating within the sides thereof and forming therewith intervening spaces, an upper rack-section having a hinged connection at its rear corner only with said stand, the locking-rails pivoted to said upper rackseotion and fitting loosely in the spaces between the table-top and the sides of the stand, means for clamping said looking-rails to the stand', and a lower rack-'section supported by the stand, substantially as described.

9. A display-rack'comprising a stand having the hinged foot-pieces foldably connected thereto, a lower rack-section, an upper racksection hinged to the 'stand and arranged to be lowered and to rest upon said foot-pieces, and independent clamping devices each connected to one rack-section and clamped to the* stand, substantially as described.

In witness whereof'I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM NORTHGRAVES.

Witnesses:

J. M. MEYHEW, J. M. HALL. 

